Public School Facilities Element

Public School Facilities Element GOAL 1: THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION AMONG LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND BECAUSE OF A SHARED COMMITMENT TO EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE, ALL STUDENTS OF THE PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL BE PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGH STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH THE AVAILABILITY OF HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. [12-31] OBJECTIVE 1.1: Pinellas County, its partner local governments, and the School District agree to coordinate and base their plans upon consistent projections of population growth and student enrollment, and will coordinate in sharing of information on proposed school facility changes, certain planned infrastructure improvements, and proposed land use plan amendments and/or rezonings that increase or decrease residential densities. (Section 163.31777, F.S.) [12-31] Policy 1.1.1: Policy 1.1.2: Policy 1.1.3: Policy 1.1.4: Pinellas County its partner local governments, and the School District, will utilize population growth projections prepared by the Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization s Technical Coordinating Committee, when developing their plans and student enrollment projections, consistent with Section 2 of the Public Schools Interlocal Agreement. To ensure that land use and zoning decisions are adequately coordinated with public school facility planning, Pinellas County shall continue to notify the School District of all Local Planning Agency hearings where land use plan amendments and/or rezonings will be considered that increase or decrease residential densities. (Section 163.31777& Section 163.3174 (1).F.S.) [12-31] Pinellas County shall inform the School District in advance of infrastructure projects that will restrict vehicular or pedestrian accessibility to public schools with sufficient time for School District review and comment, in compliance with Section 3(b) of the Public Schools Interlocal Agreement. An example would be infrastructure projects that would disrupt the use of sidewalks that are utilized by students accessing public school facilities The School District shall notify Pinellas County of the need for on site or offsite improvements to support new, proposed expansion, or redevelopment of existing schools within the jurisdiction of Pinellas County. Thereafter, representatives of the School District and Pinellas County will meet and determine the responsibility for making such improvements and identify other agencies that should be involved. The School District and Pinellas County will then meet with the other agencies to coordinate the completion of the on-site and off-site improvements, in accordance with Section 5 of the Public Schools Interlocal Agreement. (Section 163.31777(2)(d), F.S.) [12-31] The Compendium - Public School Facilities Element 12-1

Policy 1.1.5: Pinellas County and the School District shall utilize student generation rates developed by the School District for purposes of calculating the anticipated number of public school students that would be generated when evaluating proposed land use plan amendments, rezoning, and/or residential site plans and final residential subdivision approvals. [12-31] OBJECTIVE 1.2: Pinellas County shall practice effective intergovernmental coordination with its partner local governments and the School District to ensure coordination of land use plans, development approvals, and capital facilities planning. [12-31] Policy 1.2.1: Pinellas County shall appoint one elected official to represent Pinellas County s interest to the Pinellas Schools Collaborative, to provide for collaborative oversight and to provide coordination and direction regarding implementation of the Public Schools Interlocal Agreement. [12-31] GOAL 2: PINELLAS COUNTY SHALL COORDINATE WITH ITS PARTNER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ON PROJECTS THAT ENCOURAGE COHESIVE NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT CONTRIBUTE TO COMMUNITY BUILDING, AND THAT PROVIDE FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY. [12-31] OBJECTIVE 2.1: Pinellas County shall support efforts that facilitate coordination of planning between Pinellas County and the School District for the location and development of public educational facilities. (Sections 163.31777(2), 1013.33(10) - (13). [12-31] Policy 2.1.1: Policy 2.1.2: Policy 2.1.3: Pinellas County shall participate with the School District in the process of evaluating potential school closures, significant renovations to existing schools, and school site selection before land acquisition in accordance with Section 4 of the Public Schools Interlocal Agreement. [12-31] For purposes of Objective 2.1, public educational facilities are defined as elementary schools, special education facilities, alternative education facilities, middle schools, high schools, and area vocational-technical schools of the Pinellas County School District. Public educational facilities of the School District are an allowable use within the following future land use categories: [12-31] Residential Rural Residential Estate Residential Suburban Residential Low Residential Urban Residential Low Medium Residential Medium Residential/Office General Residential/Office Limited Institutional The Compendium - Public School Facilities Element 12-2

Policy 2.1.4: Policy 2.1.5: The location and construction of new public educational facilities, or the expansion of an existing site, within one of the future land use categories listed in Policy 2.1.3 shall only be allowed upon a determination by Pinellas County that the proposed site is consistent with the Pinellas County Comprehensive Plan. [12-31] In addition to consistency with the Pinellas County Comprehensive Plan, the proposed location of a new or expanded public educational facility of the School Board within one of the land use categories listed in Policy 2.1.3 shall be reviewed and considered with the following general criteria: 1. The proposed location is compatible with present and projected uses of adjacent property. 2. The site area of the proposed location is adequate for its intended use based on the State Requirements for Educational Facilities and provides sufficient area to accommodate all needed utilities and support facilities and allow for adequate buffering of surrounding land uses. 3. Based on the Five-Year Work Program of the School Board and the Pinellas County Comprehensive Plan, there will be adequate public services and facilities to support the public educational facility. 4. There are no significant environmental constraints that would preclude development of a public educational facility on the site. 5. There will be no adverse impact on archaeological or historic sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places or designated by a local government as locally significant historic or archaeological resources. 6. The proposed location is well drained and soils are suitable for development or are adaptable for development and outdoor educational purposes with drainage improvements. 7. The proposed location is not in conflict with the Pinellas County Stormwater Management Plan and any watershed management plans adopted by Pinellas County, if applicable. 8. The proposed location is not in a velocity flood zone or a floodway. 9. The proposed location can accommodate the required parking and anticipated queuing of vehicles onsite. 10. The proposed location lies outside the area regulated by Section 333.03(3), F.S., regarding the construction of public educational facilities in the vicinity of an airport. [12-31] The Compendium - Public School Facilities Element 12-3

Policy 2.1.6: The following criteria shall also be used to evaluate whether proposed locations of specific types of schools are consistent with the Pinellas County Comprehensive Plan: Elementary Schools, Special Education Facilities, and Alternative Education Facilities 1. The proposed location shall have direct access to at least a collector road or as otherwise approved by the local government after determination of acceptable traffic impacts on adjacent roads of lesser classification. Middle Schools 1. The proposed location shall have direct access to at least a collector road or as otherwise approved by the local government after determination of acceptable traffic impacts on adjacent roads of lesser classification. 2. Outdoor recreational facilities and similar support facilities shall be located and buffered on the proposed site to minimize impacts on adjacent properties. High Schools 1. The proposed location shall have direct access to at least a collector road, or as otherwise approved by the local government after determination of acceptable traffic impacts on adjacent roads of lesser classification. 2. Stadiums, outdoor recreational facilities, and similar support facilities shall be located and buffered on the proposed site to minimize impacts on adjacent properties. Vocational -Technical Schools 1. The proposed location shall have direct access to at least a collector road, or as otherwise approved by the local government after determination of acceptable traffic impacts on adjacent roads of lesser classification. 2. Industrial education facilities shall be located and buffered on the proposed site to minimize impacts on adjacent properties. Policy 2.1.7: Proposed locations that are less than the standard site acreage as prescribed in the Florida Department of Education State Requirements of Educational Facilities may be determined to be consistent with the Pinellas County Comprehensive Plan provided the requirements of Section 1013.36, F.S., are met and off-site impacts can be adequately mitigated. The Compendium - Public School Facilities Element 12-4

Policy 2.1.8: Policy 2.1.9: Policy 2.1.10: Policy 2.1.11: A consistency determination for a proposed new site or additional property with the Pinellas County Comprehensive Plan may be conditioned with references to specific types of public educational facilities. At the time of consistency determination, Pinellas County may impose reasonable conditions for development of the site as it relates to any of the criteria in Policies 2.1.5 and 2.1.6. Conditions may not be imposed which conflict with those established in Chapter 1013 of the Florida Statutes or the State Uniform Building Code, unless mutually agreed to by Pinellas County and the School District. Before a significant change of program at a public educational facility is implemented, the School District and Pinellas County shall require a review of the facility s onsite and offsite impacts. The School District and Pinellas County will work cooperatively to mitigate onsite and offsite impacts, including impacts to public facilities, identified through the review. The policies in Objective 2.1 are intended to be consistent with, and not conflict with, the provisions in Chapter 1013, F.S. OBJECTIVE 2.2: Consistent with Section 163.3177(6)(a), F.S., and the Pinellas County future land use policies, Pinellas County shall explore those opportunities where co-location of public facilities and public schools provides a mutual benefit, serves a desirable community purpose, or represents an efficient use of finances and staff resources. (Section 163.3177(12)(g), 163.3180(13)(g)2, F.S.) [12-31] Policy 2.2.1: Policy 2.2.2: As the opportunity arises, Pinellas County and the School Board, shall evaluate the ability to enter into an agreement to co-locate existing or planned school sites with other public facilities, including but not limited to: bike and pedestrian pathways, libraries, parks, community and recreational centers and facilities, museums, performing arts centers, auditoriums, stadiums, healthcare and social services and other uses as may be determined appropriate. [12-31] Should Pinellas County and the School Board determine that the co-location of public facilities is mutually advantageous and desirable, the appropriate method of agreement will be decided upon, and could include such options as, but not be limited to, Interlocal Agreement, Pinellas County resolution, or memorandum of understanding. [12-31] Objective 2.3: Pinellas County will support the School District s commitment to sustainable design and operations, as public schools are integral contributors to the quality of the surrounding community. Policy 2.3.1: Pinellas County and the School District will share information on sustainable design and green building practices, and take advantage of opportunities to incorporate demonstration projects and technologies onsite, so that local schools can serve as community models of environmental efficiency. The Compendium - Public School Facilities Element 12-5

GOAL 3: PINELLAS COUNTY WILL COORDINATE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS AS THEY ACCESS PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES. [12-31] OBJECTIVE 3.1: Pinellas County shall collaborate with the School District and other local governments to promote safe access for students to public school facilities. Policy 3.1.1: Policy 3.1.2: Policy 3.1.3: Policy 3.1.4: Policy 3.1.5: Pinellas County shall participate on the School Transportation Safety Committee (STSC) of the Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to identify locations within the County where student safety is a concern, and to develop recommendations in response to student safety issues raised by the School District, local governments, the School Transportation and Enhanced Pedestrian Safety (STEPS) Committee, or the community to enhance the safety of students accessing public school facilities. Pinellas County shall consider implementation of recommendations from the STSC that affect its jurisdiction, in coordination with the School District and any agencies that have some involvement in the identified action, to support student access to public schools in a manner that both improves student safety and is compatible with the surrounding community. Pinellas County shall cooperate with School District initiatives that implement STSC recommendations for modifications to a school campus. Pinellas County shall, in its capital improvement program, give priority to the construction of those sidewalks, crosswalks, bicycle paths, and other improvements that help to provide continuous access to public schools for pedestrians and bicyclists. For new development or redevelopment within a two-mile radius of any existing or planned public school facility, Pinellas County shall require the developer to construct sidewalks along the corridor contiguous to the property being developed that directly serves the public school facility, in support of Section 1013.36 (5), F.S. and the MPO 2035 Transportation Plan. [12-31] GOAL 4: OPPORTUNITIES ARE MAXIMIZED FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO BE DESIGNED SUCH THAT THEY CAN SERVE A VITAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PURPOSE IN TIMES OF DISASTER. OBJECTIVE 4.1: The safety of the public shall be a high priority when designing future public school facilities and renovating existing facilities. Policy 4.1.1: Pinellas County shall coordinate with the School District on emergency preparedness issues, including the use of public school facilities for emergency shelters. [12-31] The Compendium - Public School Facilities Element 12-6

Policy 4.1.2: Future public school facilities that are not located within category 1, 2 or 3 evacuation zones, shall be designed to serve the public as emergency shelters, consistent with Section 1013.372 F.S. These public school facilities shall be designed according to the public shelter criteria outlined in the Florida Building Code. Policy 4.1.3: Pinellas County shall annually update its Capital Improvements Element to ensure that the School District s capital needs are reflected in the Comprehensive Plan, enabling the coordination of existing and planned public school facilities with the required local capital projects needed to provide emergency shelter spaces, as identified by the Tampa Bay Regional Hurricane Evacuation Study, developed by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. The Compendium - Public School Facilities Element 12-7